Apple has released the epic new iPad Pro, and in this episode I give you a first look at the large iOS device. As you'll see, the iPad Pro sports a huge (by tablet standards) 12.9-inch Retina display. On the outside, it looks just like another other current-generation iPad, just bigger. On the inside though, there's a lot more power. It's the first iOS device to ship with 4GB, and paired with Apple's A9X processor, this thing is fast. It amounts to an iOS experience that is smooth and fluid, doing everything from navigating the home screen, opening apps, multitasking, and even editing video a breeze. The massive screen immerses you into its world - I know that sounds ridiculous, but it's true. Open up a high-resolution image, video, or game, and you are brought into that place.

You can pick up the iPad Pro for $799 for the 32GB mode, $949 for 128GB, and $1079 for the 128GB model with LTE support. Must-have accessories include the Apple Pencil, and the iPad Pro Keyboard, which connects via the new Smart Connector. Check out the video for the full rundown!

Advertisement

I bring you a unique first-look at the Alienware Steam Machine in this episode! The Alienware Steam Machine ships with the Steam Controller, and aims to bring the PC gaming experience into the living room with a small form factor that maintains the upgradability of a typical PC. Running SteamOS, the Steam Machine boots right into Steam, ready to play your downloaded games. What's more, it can even stream Steam titles from your PC on the same home network (necessary, because SteamOS isn't optimized to play all of the titles available on Steam.)

Being that the Alienware Steam Machine looks to mimic the game console experience, you only get the Steam Controller, no keyboard or mouse. You can also use Xbox 360 controllers wirelessly, as well as Xbox One controllers when connected directly to the Steam Machine by USB.

I recently brought you my Seagate Game Drive for Xbox review, a 2TB external hard drive that is specifically designed for the Microsoft Xbox One and Xbox 360 in a joint collaboration between Xbox and Seagate. In this episode, I show you how easy it is to set up, get formatted, and get up and running on the Xbox One (the process is similar for Xbox 360 if you want to use it for that console instead!)

Apple released the brand new Apple TV 4th generation recently, in both a 32GB and 64GB model. Once you pick it up and get it hooked up, you'll have to go through the setup process. Unfortunately, the on-screen keyboard on the new Apple TV is less than awesome. Luckily, there is a cool shortcut you can use if you own a recent iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad. Using the Bluetooth connection that is in both the Apple TV and the iOS device, you can use the iOS device to speed up the setup of the Apple TV. In this episode, I use an iPhone 6S Plus to get my Wi-Fi and iCloud credentials onto the 64GB Apple TV, showing you how to get through the process quickly!

TiVo is back with an all new DVR: TiVo Bolt! More of a side-grade than an upgrade from the TiVo Roamio Plus and Roamio Pro (see our TiVo Roamio Pro review), the TiVo Bolt is the first TiVo DVR to offer 4K UHD resolution. You can currently stream content from both Netflix and YouTube in 4K, with more to come soon (hopefully Amazon!)

The two other major features of the TiVo Bolt are QuickMode and SkipMode. With SkipMode, TiVo allows you to completely skip over blocks of commercials with the press of a button for prime time shows that air on the top 20 TV networks. QuickMode allows you to speed up your TV watching, playing the content at 1.3x the normal speed. Voices still sound as they should, but the show just plays a little faster, allowing you to get through them quicker.

The shape of the box is a bit odd, and the two-tone black and white remote is a departure as well, but the Bolt is faster and more responsive than any previous model. It can also record up to four shows at once.

I give you a look at the HUGE Halo 5: Guardians Limited Collector's Edition for Xbox One in this episode! The star of this show is the gigantic Master Chief & Spartan Locke statue.

You also get a full Halo 5: Guardians game download, Warzone REQ bundle that includes 14 premium requisition packs, access to Halo: The Fall of Reach animated series, a Guardian model that you build yourself from Metal Earth, Spartan Locke's classified orders, dossiers on Blue Team and Fireteam Osiris, the Spartan SteelBook, and a two week Xbox Live Gold trial.

Seriously. All of that is part of the Limited Collector's Edition for Halo 5. The price comes out to $249.99 for all of it, but is a $189 premium over the standard Halo 5 disc. Is it worth it? The statue is definitely cool, but it's a lot of pay unless you're a hardcore Halo fan.

I give you a look at the rugged Samsung Galaxy S6 Active in this episode! The S6 Active is a more protected version of the flagship Samsung Galaxy S6 smartphone. It's got a 5.1-inch Quad HD 2560x1440 display, 16MP rear camera, 5MP front camera, a fantastic 3,500mAh battery, and a built-in rugged design that can withstand the elements. I'm talking about IP68 certification, making it water resistant, windproof, dustproof, etc.

The Super AMOLED display has a 577ppi capacity, and looks great even in sunlight, and the Samsung Exynos 7420 is an octa-core 64-bit processor (4 2.1GHz cores, and 4 1.5GHz cores.) On the inside it's got 3GB RAM and 32GB of storage.

I give you a look at one of the best routers on the market in the Linksys WRT1900ac in this episode. This is a fast router that supports 802.11ac speeds, which is up to 4.3x faster than 802.11n wifi. This router has simultaneous dual-band 2.4GHz and 5GHz antennas, and a dual core CPU that promotes high speed data processing.

The cool thing about the WRT AC1900 is that it is open source-ready. This means you can install packages like DD-WRT and OpenWRT and it will be officially supported. External antennas round this one out, and they can be removed and swapped out for larger, more powerful antennas as well!

The Forza Motorsport 6 Xbox One Limited Edition Bundle features an Xbox One console with a custom blue paint job, complete with two racing stripes and Forza Motorsport logo. The controller included also features that same blue color and racing strip design, along with metallic trigger buttons.

The console also ups the ante with a 1TB internal hard drive, which is double what you'll find in the typical Xbox One console. Forza Motorsport 6 is included as a digital download, as is the Forza Motorsport 6 Ten Year Anniversary Car Pack, which features 10 specially tuned and liveried cars, like the 2009 Ferrari 458 Italia, 2014 Lamborghini Huracan, and 2013 McLaren P1.

The console is also programmed with custom engine sounds when turned on, off, and when a disc is ejected. In the box you'll also find the Xbox One chat headset, power supply, and HDMI cable.

This is an entry from our 2015 Holiday Gift Guide. Check it out for suggestions on what to buy your loved, liked, and hated ones this holiday season!

Meet BB-8 - the app-enabled Droid that's as authentic as it is advanced, and the latest entry in our 2015 Holiday Gift Guide. BB-8 has something unlike any other robot - an adaptive personality that changes as you play. Based on your interactions, BB-8 will show a range of expressions and even perk up when you give voice commands. Set it to patrol and watch your Droid explore autonomously, make up your own adventure and guide BB-8 yourself, or create and view holographic recordings.

It’s now possible to explore the galaxy with your own trusty Astromech Droid by your side. BB-8 is more than a toy - it’s your companion.